Update on the Omincare/Risperdal/Johnson & Johnson Debacle

Here is a great article in today's Boston Globe, called Kickbackers' motto: "Do no harm" (to profits). It provides some interesting background information about Omnicare and Johnson & Johnson and the complaint regarding kickbacks for Omnicare for pushing Risperdal on unsuspecting elderly patients with dementia.

In short, some states do not allow the independent pharmacist upon whom doctors in nursing homes rely for recommendations to work for the company that pushes the drug. New Jersey is one of them. Other states, including Massachusetts, do not have such a division of duties, allowing the so-called independent pharmacist consultants to be an extension of the pharmaceutical company's sales force.

In addition, the article recognizes that inadequate staffing levels is an underlying problem leading to the use of "chemical restraints" to keep unruly residents in check and allowing staff to deal with other issues. Do you THINK?

Give the article a read. I'm just glad the complaint is still making headlines! P.S. The comments to the article on boston.com are worth a read as well.